US 8,275,974 B2Granted

Systems and methods providing dynamic spreadsheet functionality

AssigneeOutlookSoft Corporation

InventorPerlie E. Voshell

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An advantageous system and method are provided for supporting and/or enabling the creation of dynamic reports and/or data presentation(s) in connection with a spreadsheet-based application or program. The system and method offer a full complement of spreadsheet-based formatting and calculation capabilities. In addition, the system and method may be used in conjunction with and/or incorporated as part of spreadsheet-based application(s) and/or program(s) found on stand-alone clients and/or networked clients. The system and method generally include an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows, a database in communication with the electronic spreadsheet, and an expansion formula that functions to control retrieval of data from the database and automatically varies/expands at least one of the defined number of columns and rows to accommodate the data retrieval.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for dynamic spreadsheet reporting, comprising:

providing an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows;
providing a database in communication with the electronic spreadsheet;
receiving an expansion formula in at least one of the plurality of cells that comprises at least one dimension member and instructions for expansion;
in response to rendering the electronic spreadsheet, using the at least one dimension member from the expansion formula to query the database to retrieve data associated with the at least one dimension member from the database;
using the instructions for expansion from the expansion formula to automatically vary at least one of the defined number of the columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet to accommodate the retrieved data;
and
populating the varied columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet with the retrieved data;
wherein the expansion formula defines a beginning point for the automatic variation and an ending point for the automatic variation;
wherein the plurality of cells of the spreadsheet include a summation cell that is not disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation;
and
wherein the summation cell provides a sum that includes values from a plurality of cells disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation.

8 more elements

A system for dynamic spreadsheet reporting, the system comprising:

a client computer in connections with a network, the client computer comprising:
data storage that comprises at least one database;
and
a processor at least partially executing a spreadsheet-based application program configured to:
provide an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows;
receive an expansion formula in at least one of the plurality of cells that comprises at least one dimension member and instructions for expansion;
in response to rendering the electronic spreadsheet, use the at least one dimension member from the expansion formula to query a database to retrieve data associated with the at least one dimension member from the at least one database;
use the instructions for expansion from the expansion formula to automatically vary at least one of the defined number of the columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet to accommodate the retrieved data;
and
populate the varied columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet with the retrieved data
wherein the expansion formula defines a beginning point for the automatic variation and an ending point for the automatic variation;
wherein the plurality of cells of the spreadsheet include a summation cell that is not disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation;
and
wherein the summation cell provides a sum that includes values from a plurality of cells disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation.

11 more elements

A system for dynamic spreadsheet reporting, the system comprising:

means for providing an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows;
means for receiving an expansion formula in at least one of the plurality of cells that comprises at least one dimension member and instructions for expansion;
in response to rendering the electronic spreadsheet, means for using the at least one dimension member from the expansion formula to query a database to retrieve data associated with the at least one dimension member from the at least one database;
means for using the instructions for expansion from the expansion formula to automatically vary at least one of the defined number of the columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet to accommodate the retrieved data;
and
means for populating the varied columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet with the retrieved data;
wherein the expansion formula defines a beginning point for the automatic variation and an ending point for the automatic variation;
wherein the plurality of cells of the spreadsheet include a summation cell that is not disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation;
and
wherein the summation cell provides a sum that includes values from a plurality of cells disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/491,474Filed 21 Jul 2006 · continuation
Priority: 16 Jan 2001
Published: US 2007/0130503 A17 Jun 2007
Granted: 25 Sep 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

G06F 40/18
Of tables; using ruled lines: of spreadsheets
G06F 16/2423
Query formulation: interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

Application60/262,024Us provisional application · filed 16 Jan 2001
Application10/043,675Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Jan 2002
US 2007/0130503 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Jun 2007
US 7,082,569 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2002/0169799 A1Published application
US 8,275,974 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.